Crimes in the barangay

EVEN in an urbanized city like Dagupan, the conventional culture of small-town-where-everybody-knows-everybody still thrives, particularly within the barangay communities where people are still more often than not related by blood, marriage or some form of affinity such as a shared childhood or the same alma mater.

That means that the dark corners where illegal activities take place, such as the selling and buying of prohibited drugs, could be no secret to the neighborhood, especially not to the elected barangay officials.

Where the trading of illegal drugs flourish and who are behind this evil business are surely known to the barangay kapitan and the kagawads. As public servants, the frontline administrators of government, barangay officials have the duty to report to authorities these crimes and the criminals – notwithstanding family ties and friendships.

A good example was demonstrated by Barangay Chairman Romeo Celeste of Germinal in Bolinao when in November last year, he arrested his own son and a companion after catching them in the act of using that dreadful and deadly synthetic drug shabu. The arrests eventually led the police to the capture of the dealer who was supplying the illegal substance. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of Kapitan Pedro Gonzales of Bonuan Binloc, a known enclave of illegal drug trading in Dagupan and neighboring towns.

When barangay officials, with their mandate as elected representatives and leaders of the communities, fail to report the unlawful things that are going on in their areas, that counts for a crime of omission at the very least. The city hall, the police and other government agencies such as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency must consider them as sympathizers or coddlers who must be put on the watch list together with the crooks.

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Trial of The Decade

BARRING hitches, Chief Justice Renato Corona is expected to arrive with all guns ablaze as the Trial of The Decade a.k.a. impeachment case begins tomorrow, January 16, at the Senate. Corona will face charges of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption, with Rep. Niel Tupas and several of his fellow congressmen acting as prosecutors in the Senate sala presided over by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

The Constitution says a Supreme Court justice can only be removed from office by impeachment if he does not resign.  Thus, if Corona resigns, it’s all over but the shouting – so to speak. Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez faced a similar scenario last year but, days before her impeachment trial could start, she succumbed to pressure and resigned. But it seems obvious that Corona isn’t about to do a Gutierrez.  He has a high-powered battery of lawyers at his disposal to begin with, led no less by a former Supreme Court Justice, Serafin Cuevas.

So, sit back and relax. Let the show begin.

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